{
  "abstract": "Objectives Belimumab (BEL), a B-cell modulator mAb that selectively inhibits soluble B-lymphocyte stimulator and reduces autoreactive B cells driving lupus disease activity, is approved for adult and paediatric SLE and LN. 1 Early BEL response occurs within weeks for several key SLE clinical endpoints.2 Here, we identified key predictors of early improvement in SLE disease activity measures (DAM) among US patients with SLE.Methods This retrospective, longitudinal cohort study (GSK Study 222157) of electronic health record data (Specialty Networks) included adults with SLE initiating subcutaneous/intravenous BEL (9/1/2011–12/25/2024; ‘index’), with clinical activity >=12 months pre-index (‘baseline period’) and >=2 months post-index. Each DAM had recorded >=1 non-zero baseline disease activity and >=1 duplicate <=2 months post-index. Early (<=2 months post-index) DAM improvement was defined as >=1 observation less than the mean baseline score (at patient level) minus its minimal important difference (0.5×standard deviation of baseline DAM) or value of 0. Early improvement predictors for patient pain index (PPI), Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI), swollen joint count (SJC) and tender joint count (TJC) were assessed separately and on aggregate using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression. Baseline predictors included age, sex, race, index year, baseline DAM, SLE disease severity, organ damage, Quan-Charlson Comorbidity Index, comorbidities.Results Of 684 patients, 54.7% (n=374) experienced early improvement in >=1 aggregate DAM, with 41.2%, 32.5%, 48.7% and 38.8% experiencing early improvements in PPI, HAQ-DI, SJC and TJC, respectively ( table 1). Table 2 summarises patient demographics and clinical characteristics. LASSO-selected early improvement predictors in >=1 SLE DAM included male sex (vs female) (odds ratio [OR; 95% confidence interval (CI)]: 2.25 [1.03, 5.29]), minority race (vs White) (OR [95% CI]: 1.77 [1.21, 2.60]), and baseline moderate/severe SLE (vs mild) (OR [95% CI]: 1.50 [1.08, 2.10]) (table 3).Abstract PO:05:143 Table 1–3Conclusions More than half of patients with SLE experienced early improvement in disease activity dimensions with BEL initiation, demonstrating its rapid therapeutic effect. Moderate/severe SLE and non-White race were predictive of early improvement and may demonstrate greater benefit from BEL treatment.Funding GSKReferences GSK. Benlysta US prescribing information. 2024. Fanouriakis A, et al. Lupus Sci Med. 2019;8;6(1):e000310.Original presentation ACR 2025",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Analysis Group, Los Angeles, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Yan Chen"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Analysis Group, Los Angeles, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Maral Dersarkissian"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Analysis Group, Los Angeles, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Shumin Rui"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Analysis Group, Los Angeles, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Justin Clark"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "GSK, Global Real-World Evidence and Health Outcomes Research, Toronto, Canada"
      ],
      "name": "Daniel Moldaver"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "GSK, Global Real-World Evidence and Health Outcomes Research, Collegeville, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Jeffrey J Ellis"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "GSK, Global Real-World Evidence and Health Outcomes Research, Collegeville, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Karen Worley"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "GSK, Medical Affairs, Verona, Italy"
      ],
      "name": "Silvia Tamanini"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "GSK, US Medical Affairs, Durham, USA",
        "Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Aarat M Patel"
    }
  ],
  "title": "PO:05:143 Belimumab is associated with early improvement in disease activity measures among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus in the US",
  "uid": "dd4a013e-0297-50a6-920e-199862c65fe0"
}